Drinking Water Management

Health Risk Perceptions and Choices in First Nations and Non-First Nations Communities in Canada

Bibliographic Data

ID15468575
AuthorsDiane Dupont (Brock University, corresponding author), Cheryl Waldner (0000-0002-7152-4261, University of Saskatchewan), Lalita Bharadwaj (0000-0003-2690-0907, University of Saskatchewan), Ryan Plummer (0000-0001-5749-6201, Stockholm Resilience Centre), Blair Carter (University of Waterloo), Kate Cave (United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health), Rebecca Zagozewski (University of Saskatchewan)
Year2014
Volume11
Issue6
Pages5889-5903
Publication date2014-05-30
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph110605889
PMID24886757
PMCIDPMC4078554
OpenAlexW2030583808
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited17

The relationship between tap water and health has been a topic of public concern and calls for better management in Canada since well-publicized contamination events in two provinces (Ontario and Saskatchewan) in 2000-2001. This study reports the perspectives on health risks from tap water and corresponding use of, and spending on, bottled water in a number of different communities in Canada. In 2009-2010, four First Nations communities (three from Ontario and one from Saskatchewan) and a geographically diverse sample of non-First Nations Canadians were surveyed about their beliefs concerning health risks from tap water and their spending practices for bottled water as a substitute. Responses to five identical questions were examined, revealing that survey respondents from Ontario First Nations communities were more likely than non-First Nations Canadians to believe bottled water is safer than tap water (OR 1.6); more likely to report someone became ill from tap water (OR 3.6); more likely to express water and health concerns related to tap water consumption (OR 2.4); and more likely to spend more on bottled water (OR 4.9). On the other hand, participants from one Saskatchewan First Nations community were less likely than non-First Nations Canadians to believe that someone had become ill from drinking tap water (OR 3.8), less likely to believe bottled water is safer than tap (OR 2.0), and less likely to have health concerns with tap water (OR 1.5). These differences, however, did not translate into differences in the likelihood of high bottled water expenditures or being a 100% bottled water consumer. The paper discusses how the differences observed may be related to water supply and regulation, trust, perceived control, cultural background, location, and past experience

Bottled water · Business · Environmental health · Geography · Public health · SAFER · Tap water · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Environmental Justice and Health Disparities · Environmental Science · Medicine · Environmental Engineering

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